MARINE SENTENCED IN DRUG CASE

A Camp Lejeune Marine was sentenced Wednesday to 18 years in prison after
he was convicted during a general court-martial of drug charges, including
distribution of LSD and ecstasy.

Sgt. Steven L. Merrill, a wireman with 2nd Battery, 10th Marine Regiment,
2nd Marine Division, was convicted of 16 charges, said Staff Sgt. Michelle
Smith of the Camp Lejeune Public Affairs Office. Merrill was also sentenced
to a dishonorable discharge, reduction to the rank of private and
forfeiture of $338,256.00 in pay.

The five-member board, which served as a jury, found Merrill guilty of
seven specifications of drug conspiracy charges and nine more charges of
actual distribution and use of controlled substances. The trial lasted for
10 days and included incidents on and off Camp Lejeune, Smith said.